Building for Eternity
Archive for July, 2009
How then should we live
Jul 31st
A big part of being human is making choices. God has given us the world to look after, and He holds us responsible for the choices we make and the way we live.
The ultimate good is to live according to God’s purpose and plans. He wants us to….
CREATE & MAINTAIN MUTUAL LOVE RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN GOD AND HUMANS
AND HUMANS AND HUMANS.
Sometimes the circumstances we find ourselves in are less than perfect. It is hard to achieve God’s ideal plans. Then we need to RETRIEVE as much good and limit as much harm as possible in the situation.
Stephen Semenchuk
Senior Minister
Another Small Step…. (not so small)
Jul 24th
This week the Glebe Administration Board approved a $1.5 million dollar unsecured loan to Dapto Anglican Church for our new building. The level of our pledges exceeded their requirements and now the full funding for the building project is in place. Obviously the sooner the funds roll in, the less interest we will end up paying over the life of the project. What it means is that once Wollongong Council approval is received we can move to tender and contracting builders expeditiously.
Praise God for your generosity and commitment. One of the encouraging aspects of our pledge responses was the number of first time pledges we received. I have heard many stories of how families and friends spent much time and prayer arriving at their commitment. THANK YOU.
Some key points for your prayers:
• Pray that formal Council approval is received within the next three weeks.
• Pray as the plans are drawn up for the new entrance to our existing building (an important first step which can be built as soon as the D.A. is received)
• Pray that we will quickly find the right major building contractor once the tendering process begins.
What a blast!
Jul 17th
This week we will remember the 1st moon landing on its 40th anniversary. Next month Bluescope’s refurbished blast furnace will be fired up. Last week the pride of NSW rugby league was restored. With St George Illawarra on top of the football competition, life in Wollongong seems to have taken a move in the right direction.
However, if we live our life in a way determined by external circumstances, our feelings of well being will fluctuate on a daily, even hourly basis. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is fundamental to a life of faith. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. My significance needs to rest in my status as a child of God and my security is in Jesus as my Saviour and Lord.
Stephen Semenchuk
Senior Minister
Is God your father?
Jul 10th
Did you see any of the Michael Jackson tribute on Wednesday? I think the high point, and most powerful bit for me was the ending. Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, with tears flowing, told the world she loves her dad, and will miss him.
Seeing that reminded me of the biggest tragedy of his death. Not that we have lost one of the most influential, and talented entertainers that ever lived, but that 3 children are now left without a father. That’s terrible news for any child, famous or not.
Now Christianity is the only belief system that dares to call its God, ‘Father.’ No other religion has a God so personal, and so intimate, and so ‘reachable.’
It’s good for us, as followers of the Lord Jesus, to remember that although we may have had earthly fathers who neglected us, or let us down, or have passed away, we have a perfect Father in heaven, who loves His children, and wants to spend eternity with them.
I sincerely hope Michael Jackson’s 3 kids, now or in the future, get to know God as their Father.
My plea is for any who do not know God as their Father, to check Him out, ask Him to adopt you, and join the family!
Take care,
Jim Mobbs,
Assistant Minister
PTC – It’s Awesome!
Jul 3rd
God’s plan for his world – Take a look at the Bible’s big picture
“Introduction to the Bible” an overvies of the entire Bible in 10 weekly units plus helpful hints on how to understand its main themes
10 week course each Tuesday, commencing 1/9/09 at 6:30pm til 7:45pm in the Ministry Centre
Get together with other members of the DAC community to study and share the big themes of the Bible
Standard $80 (Students/unemployed $50)
Register by 17th August by sending an email to the church office daptoang@ozemail.com.au
WHAT 90 MILLION CAN’T BUY…
Jul 3rd
It’s been intriguing to observe the hysteria of the 90 million dollar Oz Lotto jackpot this week. Half the adult population of Australia has bought a ticket, hoping to win, even though there was a 99.97% chance of not winning it.
I find it ironic that in our tough times, Australians can still find over 200 million dollars to spend on lotto, and are willing to take on such ridiculous odds.
People’s attitude to a 90 million dollar jackpot shows a clear difference between Christians and non-Christians. Christians know that they have a treasure that is priceless. Every Christian knows, they have, in a sense, already “won lotto”.
No amount of money can buy a ticket to heaven or pay the debt we owe to a holy God. Every Christian must know the odds of pleasing God without trusting in Jesus alone, is 0%. To be 100% saved and have priceless treasure in Heaven, the Bible says we must repent and believe.
Repent = Not just saying sorry to God, but doing a 180° turn in life
– away from ourself and sin, and toward God.
Believe = Believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved.
The only way to please God is through Jesus.
To know Jesus is to “hit the jackpot”.
What’s stopping you?
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”. John 14:6
Jim Mobbs,
Assistant Minister
